add site
services
publishers
database
health videos
toolbar
stats
live show
health store
more stuff
JOIN/LOGIN
| advertise add site services publishers database health videos
| | about toolbar stats live show health store more stuff JOIN/LOGIN |
Germany had an indigenous system of German units of measurement prior to its adoption of the international metric system. These units are now mainly of historical interest.
[edit] German systemBefore the introduction of the metric system in German, almost every town had its own definitions of the units shown below, and supposedly by 1810, in Baden alone, there were 112 different standards for the Elle around Germany. The metric system was a much-needed standardisation in Germany. [edit] Length[edit] Meile (mile)A German geographic mile (geographische Meile) is defined as 1/15 equatorial degrees, equal to 7420.54 m. A common German mile, land mile, or post mile (Gemeine deutsche Meile, Landmeile, Postmeile) was defined in various ways at different places and different times. After the introduction of the metric system in the 19th century the Landmeile was generally fixed at 7500 m (the Reichsmeile), but before then there were many local and regional variants (of which some are shown below):
[edit] Rute (rod)This is of Carolingian origin, used as a land measure.
[edit] WegstundeOne hours travel, used up to the 18th century. In Germany ½ Meile or 3.71 km, in Switzerland 16,000 feet or 4.8 km. [edit] Klafter (fathom)Originally 6 feet, after introduction of the metric system 10 feet. Regional changes from 1.75 m in Baden to 3 m in Switzerland. [edit] Elle (ell)Distance between elbow and finger tip. In the North, often 2 feet, In Prussia 17 / 8 feet, in the South variable, often 2½ feet. The smallest known German elle is 402.8 mm, the longest 811 mm. [edit] Fuß (foot)The foot varied between 23.51 cm in Wesel and 40.83 cm in Trier. Rheinfuss – Rhine foot, used in the North, 31.387 cm. [edit] Zoll (inch)Usually 1 / 12 foot, but also 1/11 and 1 / 10. [edit] LinieUsually 1 / 12 inch, but also 1 / 10. [edit] Volume[edit] KlafterFor firewood, 2.905 m³ [edit] NoeselIn general, the Noesel was a measure of liquid volume equal to half a Kanne ("jar," "jug," "bottle," "can"). Actual volumes so measured, however, varied from one state or even one city to another. Within Saxony, for example, the "Dresden jar" held approximately one US-quart (qt) or 0.94 liters (ℓ), so a noesel in Dresden was about a US-pint. The full volume of a "Leipzig jar" measured 1.2ℓ or 1.3qt; the Leipzig noesel was therefore 0.6ℓ. The noesel was used in minor commerce, as well as in the household to measure meal, grain, and such. These units of measure were officially valid in Saxony until 1868, when the metric system was introduced. Nevertheless, the old measures have continued in private use for decades. One interesting modification was introduced in Thueringen. There, the noesel was, by extension, also a measure of area; namely, the area of land which could be sown with one noesel of seed — or about 17½ square yards or 14.6 m2 (0.004 acres, 0.00146 hectars). [edit] See also[edit] References
Historical work:
[edit] External links
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ↑ top of page ↑ | about thumbshots |
